Jeffco business owners and civic leaders celebrated the upgrading of the Lariat Loop from Colorado Scenic Byway to National Scenic Byway with free soft-serve ice cream in downtown Morrison on Monday afternoon.

Participants donned buffalo hats and posed for a photo in the middle of Morrison’s main street to call attention to the previously announced project, a new visitor center at the Buffalo Herd Overlook at Genesee that is projected to break ground this summer.

Eligible voters can vote in person in the park district board election Tuesday, May 4, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The polling places are at Wulf Rec Center, 5300 S. Olive Road, and Buchanan Park Rec Center, 32003 Ellingwood Trail, both in Evergreen. Both facilities are handicap accessible. The Canyon Courier’s interviews with the candidates are available in the Lead Stories section on CanyonCourier.com

The Canyon Courier publishes free listings under the categories of Happenings, seniors briefs, education briefs, Neighbors/Good for You and Outdoors/Recreation. Submissions should be 125 words or less and will appear on a space-available basis. However, all listings will be carried at www.canyoncourier.com, as well as the additional categories of Meetings and Support/Assistance.

The events must be free or charge a nominal fee, and must be open to the public. Events designed to promote a business are not included in free listings but are welcome in our advertising areas.

A former inmate at the Jeffco jail is suing Sheriff Ted Mink, claiming he was held illegally for most of his 49-day stay.

Luis Quezada, who was living in Lakewood when he was arrested for failure to appear in court on a traffic charge, is represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado.

“While Luis was locked up illegally, his sister was trying to do something about it,” said ACLU lawyer Mark Silverstein. Quezada’s sister contacted the civil-rights group, which filed a lawsuit April 21 against Mink.

Greenhouses at four schools in Evergreen are growing a love of gardening, an understanding of where food comes from, and, yes, food.

The dome greenhouses are part of the curriculum for Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen and both campuses of Montessori School of Evergreen.

The latest 550-square-foot greenhouse was constructed this month at Clear Creek High School. Clear Creek’s greenhouse will not only be used for educational purposes, but it will grow oregano and basil for the Idaho Springs Beau Jo’s restaurant.

Supporters and opponents of a proposal to change the boundary for Indian Hills students to send them to Evergreen for middle school and high school will give presentations before the Jeffco school board on April 29.

A special meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the district administrative offices, 1829 Denver West Blvd., No. 27, in Golden.

The meeting is being called by the board to keep its promise to Indian Hills and Conifer residents who wanted to provide information about where Indian Hills children should attend school after they leave Parmalee Elementary.

A house on South Cedar Road near Evergreen Lake is virtually a total loss after a fire broke out in the middle of the night, sending two occupants running for safety with none of their belongings other than a cordless house phone.

The fire was reported about 1 a.m. April 27. Kemper Smothers, who was renting the home, and his girlfriend, Geri Skeers, escaped the blaze without injury. Smothers had lived there about 10 years. The house was 80 to 90 years old.

The occupants were sleeping at the time and woke up to the smell of smoke, which had reached the second story.